Janet L. (Briggs) Briggs

Janet L. Briggs Greenfield – Janet L. Briggs, 88, died Friday, May 27, 2011 at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.      She was born in Athol, Massachusetts, January 9, 1923, the daughter of Will N. and Mary (Chamberlain) Briggs, Sr.  She grew up in Athol, graduating from Athol High School in 1940.  She moved to Washington, D.C. in 1950 and since 1986 has resided in Greenfield.        Janet worked as an administrative assistant for the Federal Government Agency for International Development for 29 years, retiring in 1980.  She had previously worked at the Veterans’ Services in Athol from 1947 until 1950 and for the L.S. Starrett Company as a secretary from 1940 until 1945.  During her work for the government she worked for the Navy Department, managed an electronics company, spent two years in Germany with the Army, and worked for NASA.  Her job also took her to Viet Nam for seven years and spent a year in the Vientiane, Laos and then spent a year in Khartoum-Sudan until her retirement.  Following her retirement she lived in Florida for four years.        She was a member of the Athol Congregational Church, and enjoyed traveling all over the world.  Janet loved animals enjoying many pets throughout her life. During World War II she drove taxi all over the Athol area.  She was one who always keep up on current events local and world wide.  A great joy was spending time with her family and many friends.      She leaves a sister Barbara Winchester and her husband Max of Athol and several nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by two brothers, Will N. Briggs, Jr. and Howard Briggs and a sister Jessie Wetherby.      Funeral services will be held Friday, June 3, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Higgins-O’Connor Funeral Home, 146 Main Street, Athol with the Rev. Dr. Beverly Prestwood- Taylor, interim pastor of the Athol Congregational Church with burial following at Highland Cemetery.  There will be a calling hour from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions in Janet’s name to the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, 163 Montague Road, Leverett, MA 01054.  For further information or to share a memory with the family go to:  www.higginsoconnorfuneralhome.com. $(document).ready(function(){ });